Sayyidina Muhammad al-Mustafa (571-632)

The Seal of the Prophets, the Lord of the Messengers, the Best of Creations, Sayyidinā wa Mawlānā Abul-Qāsim Muḥammad al-Muṣṭafā ibn ʿAbd-Allāh ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib sallAllāhu ta’ālā alaihi waSallam was born in the tribe of Quraish at Makkah in the night to Monday 12 of Rabīʿ al-Awwal, in the Year of the Elephant (569/570 AD). Her noble mother was lady Āminah bint Wahb.

At the age of 25, he married Sayyida Khadījah bint Khuwailid radiyAllāhu ʿAnhā. She was a wealthy and noble lady and a widow, who sent the proposal of marriage to the Messenger of Allah sallAllāhu ʿalaihi waSallam.

When he was exactly forty years old, he received the Message of God to call people to the path of truth and piety, and was commanded to purify their hearts from all the impurities of the world. This first revelation was received by him on Monday 12th of Rabīʿ al-Awwal.

His wife Sayyidā Khadījah was the first person who accepted his call and entered Islam. His little daughters also followed their mother and entered Islam:

Sayyidā Ruqayyā (d. 2H)

Sayyidā Zainab (d. 8H)

Sayyidā Umm Kulthūm (d. 9H)

Sayyidā Fātima (d. 11H)

The first man to enter Islam was his dear friend Sayyidinā Abū Bakr aṣ-ṢiddīqradiyAllāhu ʿanhu. He is the root of the Naqshbandi connection to the Master of the Prophets sallAllāhu ʿalaihi waSallam.

He was called back to his Eternal Friend when he was 63 years old, on Monday the 12th of Rabīʿ al-Awwal, in the year 11 After Hijrah (8th June 632 AD).

Teachings

He was pronounced by His Lord as the “Mercy for All the Worlds.” He commanded his believers to be kind and merciful to everyone.

“Whoever does not have mercy upon people, God will not have mercy on him.” (Bukhāri and Muslim)

He ʿalaih-is-Salām also said:

“The merciful are shown mercy by the All-Merciful. Have mercy to those on earth, and the Lord of the Heavens will have mercy upon you.” (Tirmidhi)

He ʿalaih-is-Salām also reminded us of the temporary nature of the world and whatever is in it, and to remember Allah the Exalted in every moment. He said:

“Accursed is this world, accursed whatever is in it, save the remembrance of Allah Most High.” (Ibn Mājah)

Mawlānā Jāmī translated this Ḥadīth in a Persian verse:

The curse of God has been pronounced upon
this world and all that exists in this world –
save God’s remembrance; for one who does dhikr
is more worthy of mercy in both worlds.

Khwāja Bahāʾ ad-Dīn Naqshbandquddisa sirruhu told his disciples to recite the following verse over his funeral, which is one of the best supplications to the Best of Creations sallAllāhu ʿalaihi waSallam:

“We the needy and poor have arrived in your alley,
Grant us for God’s sake from the gracefulness of your face.
Extend your hand towards my pouch,
Salutes to your hand and to your arm.”